Man United Legend Bill Foulkes Dies at 81

Footballer Bill Foulkes, who began his sporting career in Whiston, has died at the age of 81.

The St Helens-born centre-back played for Manchester United from 1951 until his retirement in 1970, but he got his start in youth football playing for Whiston Boys Club in 1950.

He married Teresa Suffler at St Nicholas’s Church, Whiston, in 1955.

Known as one of the ‘Busby Babes’ at Man United, he survived the 1958 Munich air disaster, the plane crash that claimed the lives of eight of his teammates, as well as the club secretary and the team’s two coaches.

Paying tribute to Foulkes, Sir Bobby Charlton, who also survived the Munich crash, said: “He was as hard as nails, as tough as teak. I was always glad I didn’t have to play against him. He was a really good defensive player and you could say he helped change the course of history for United.”

After retiring from the pitch, Foulkes went on to manage a string of soccer teams across America and Europe, ending his career in 1992.

Bill Foulkes passed away on Monday 25 November, and is survived by his wife, Teresa.